Modular interface for pantry temperature control

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment, a drawer within the refrigerator compartment, a cover on a top of the drawer, a plurality of apertures in the cover, and controls on the cover for controlling temperature within the drawer. The cover is configured to be positioned between a user interface assembly and a user interface cover with screws through the apertures in a first configuration wherein the controls are electronic controls for controlling temperature within the drawer. The cover is further configured to be snapped to a control housing using the plurality of apertures for alignment in a second configuration wherein the controls are manual controls for controlling the temperature within the drawer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application represents a divisional application and claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/685,746 entitled“MODULAR INTERFACE FOR PANTRY TEMPERATURE CONTROL”, currently pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to refrigerators and the manufacturingthereof. More particularly, the present invention relates torefrigerators with drawers configured for manual or electronictemperature control.

BACKGROUND

Refrigerators may have multiple enclosed spaces in the form ofcompartments or drawers. Where drawers are present, in the refrigerator,it may be desirable to allow a user of the refrigerator to separatelycontrol temperature of the drawer. Yet there are problems inmanufacturing such refrigerators.

One of the problems associated with manufacturing such refrigeratorsrelates to the desire to provide for standardization of parts acrossdifferent platforms. For example, refrigerators with a refrigeratordrawer with a manual temperature control will use significantlydifferent parts then a refrigerator with an electronic temperaturecontrol. What is needed is a refrigerator and a method of manufacturinga refrigerator which allow for standardization of component partsassociated with an interface for pantry temperature control regardlessof whether manual or electronic temperature control is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to improve upon the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present inventionto provide a refrigerator with a pantry drawer with separate temperaturecontrol.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide a pantry drawer which may be configured for eitherelectronic or manual temperature control.

Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is toprovide for standardization of parts across different platforms forrefrigerators.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is toprovide for manufacturing refrigerators with drawers with differenttypes of temperature controls in a manner that is cost effective andefficient.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the Specification andclaims that follow. No single embodiment need meet all of these objects,features, or advantages and different embodiments may meet differentobjects, features, or advantages. The present invention is not to belimited by or to these objects, features, or advantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator isprovided. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, arefrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment, adrawer within the refrigerator compartment, a cover on a top of thedrawer, a plurality of apertures in the cover, and controls on the coverfor controlling temperature within the drawer. The cover is configuredto be positioned between a user interface assembly and a user interfacecover with screws through the apertures in a first configuration whereinthe controls are electronic controls for controlling temperature withinthe drawer. The cover is further configured to be snapped to a controlhousing using the plurality of apertures for alignment in a secondconfiguration wherein the controls are manual controls for controllingthe temperature within the drawer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a refrigerator is provided. The method includesdetermining if a pantry of the refrigerator is to provide manualcontrols or electronic controls and providing a top cover for thepantry. If the pantry of the refrigerator is to provide the manualcontrols, the method provides for snapping the top cover to a manualcontrol housing. If the pantry of the refrigerator is to provide theelectronic controls, the method further provides for attaching the topcover between a user interface assembly and a user interface cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a plurality of refrigerators, each having a pantry drawerdisposed within a refrigerator compartment. The method includesproviding a top cover for each of the pantry drawers, the top coverhaving a plurality of apertures therein including a receiver opening andthrough holes on opposite sides of the receiver opening. For a firstsubset of the plurality of refrigerators, the method further providesfor assembling each of the first subset of the plurality ofrefrigerators by snapping the top cover to a manual control housing. Fora second subset of the plurality of refrigerators, the method providesfor assembling each of the second subset of the plurality ofrefrigerators by attaching the top cover between a user interfaceassembly and a user interface cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned objects, feature, or advantages of this invention,and the methods of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention itself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a French door refrigerator with abottom-mount freezer with a pantry drawer.

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of a pantry drawer with a manual temperaturecontrol.

FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the pantry drawer with a manualtemperature control with the drawer extended outwardly.

FIG. 4 is an isolated and exploded view of a pantry drawer top wheremanual temperature control is provided.

FIG. 5 is an isolated and assembled view of the pantry drawer top coverwhere manual temperature control is provided.

FIG. 6 is an isolated and exploded view of a pantry drawer top coverwhere electronic temperature control is provided.

FIG. 7 is an isolated and assembled view of the pantry drawer top coverwhere electronic temperature control is provided.

FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a screen display associated with theelectronic temperature control.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method formanufacturing refrigerators which may include either manual orelectronic temperature control for a drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a refrigerator 10. The refrigerator 10 has arefrigerator cabinet 12. There is a fresh food or refrigeratorcompartment 14 positioned above a freezer compartment with a freezerdrawer 18 providing access to the freezer compartment and the Frenchdoors 16 providing access to the refrigerator compartment 14. A pantrydrawer 20 is shown. The pantry drawer 20 preferably extends the fullwidth and depth of the refrigerator compartment 14 and may have one ormore dividers 21 therein for organizing contents within the pantrydrawer 20. The pantry drawer 20 may have a temperature which isdifferent from the refrigerator compartment 14 depending upon userpreferences which may be based in part on the items which a user decidesto store in the pantry drawer 20.

The pantry drawer 20 has a top cover 30 which extends generally alongits length. In a central portion of the top cover 30, a receiver 34 ispresent in which user interface controls may be positioned to providefor either electronic or manual temperature control of the pantry drawer20.

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of a pantry drawer 20 with a control housing40 present within the receiver 34 for providing manual temperaturecontrol of the pantry drawer 30. The control housing 40 may include aslider 42 which may be moved along a linear axis to allow a user toselect a temperature for the pantry drawer 30. Although a slider isshown, the present invention contemplates that other types of manualcontrols may be used such as knobs, selector switches, or other types ofmanual controls. A cold air housing 62 may be located at the back of thepantry drawer 20 to provide for circulating cold air in the direction ofarrow 60 into the pantry drawer 20 in order to maintain the temperaturewithin an acceptable range set by the user

FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the pantry drawer 20 with a manualtemperature control with the drawer 20 extended outwardly. The drawer 20has first and second opposite side walls 23, 25, a front wall 22, and anopposite back wall 24. Rails 26 may be used to allow the drawer 40 toslide to an outward position as shown in FIG. 3 from or to the inwardposition shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isolated and exploded view of a pantry drawer top cover 30where a control housing 40 is provided to allow for manual temperaturecontrols to be used. The control housing 40 includes a frame assembly 41and a manual control assembly 42 which fits within an opening 44 of theframe assembly 41. A slide 49 or other manual user control is positionedon the control assembly. Flanges 45 may be inserted into the opening 43on the frame assembly in order to secure the manual control assembly 42to the frame assembly 41. The control housing 40 may be snapped to thecover 30 using a plurality of apertures 38 which extend through the topsurface of the cover 30 for alignment purposes. The apertures 38 may bethrough holes which extend through the frame 31 of the drawer cover 30.

The frame 31 of the drawer cover 30 also has end members 33 which allowthe pantry drawer top cover 30 to be connected at opposite ends such asby snap fitting in place. The pantry drawer top cover 30 may havetransparent windows 32 on opposite sides of the receiver or opening 34.The transparent windows 32 allow a user of the refrigerator to seeinside the pantry drawer without necessarily needing to open the pantrydrawer. The receiver 34 as shown is generally centrally located in thecover 30 although, it could be otherwise placed. The manual controlassembly may be inserted into the frame assembly 41 of the controlhousing 40 which may then be snap fit to the cover using the pluralityof apertures 38 for alignment purposes such that the ends 46 of themanual control assembly 42 are aligned over the apertures or holes 38within a recess 35 of the frame 31 and the tab 47 fits against theshoulder 37.

FIG. 5 is an isolated and assembled view of the pantry drawer top cover30 where manual temperature control is provided. As shown here, thecontrol housing 40 is secured in place, with the slider 49 or othermanual control accessible to a user of the refrigerator.

FIG. 6 is an isolated and exploded view of a cover 30 for the top of apantry drawer where electronic temperature control is provided. Notethat the structure of the frame 31 of the pantry drawer top cover is thesame as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Here, however, the manual controlhousing is not present and instead a user interface module 50 isprovided. The user interface module 50 includes a user interface cover56 and a user interface assembly 51 which sandwich the pantry drawer topcover 30 at the receiver 34. The user interface module 50 allows forelectronic controls to be used for controlling temperature within adrawer. At top of the cover 30 of the pantry drawer, a user interfacecover 56 with a tab 57 is provided. Posts 63 extend downwardly from thetop cover 56. The user interface cover 56 may then fit against a gasket59 and intro the receiver 45 with the tab 57 fitting into the shoulder37. The posts 63 align with corresponding apertures 65 in the gasket andthe apertures 38 in the cover 30. Screws or bolts 58 may extend throughthe user interface assembly 51 and into the posts 63 for securing theuser interface cover 56 to the user interface assembly 51.

A wiring harness 55 may connect with other components such as athermistor 107 and LED assembly 53 associated with the user interfacemodule 50. Thus, temperature associated with the pantry drawer may besensed at the cover 30 and illumination may be provided. In addition,the user interface cover may provide for displaying informationassociated with the pantry drawer such as temperature information.

FIG. 7 is an isolated and assembled view of the pantry drawer top cover30 where electronic temperature control is provided with the userinterface module 50.

FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a screen display associated with theelectronic temperature control. A temperature 111 associated with thepantry drawer is shown. The user can adjust this setting such as byselecting the on-screen button 112 to decrease temperature or selectingthe on-screen button 113 to increase temperature. The user may do so bytouching the appropriate portion of the user interface cover 56 whichprotects the display or screen beneath it. The user may also selecttemperature or other settings based on the contents of the pantry drawersuch as by selecting “Fresh Meat”, “Party”, “Deli”, or Wine” or theassociated “Preset” button or screen area. Although one particular userinterface is shown, it is contemplated that what is displayed and themanner in which temperature settings are made may vary widely.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method formanufacturing refrigerators which may include either manual orelectronic temperature control for a drawer. In step 120 a top cover isprovided. In step 122 a determination is made as to whether the topcover is to have electronic or manual controls. This may be based on amodel number of the refrigerator being manufactured or otherwise. If therefrigerator being manufactured is to have manual user temperaturecontrols on the drawer, then in step 126 the top cover is snapped orotherwise affixed. Then in step 128 the manufacturing process cancontinue with the manual control housing in place. Returning to step122, if the refrigerator being manufactured is to have electronictemperature controls on the drawer, then in step 125 the top cover isattached between the user interface assembly and the user interfacecover. Then in step 128 the manufacturing process can continue withelectronic control housing in place. Regardless of whether there areelectronic or manual controls on the top cover, the same top cover maybe used thus efficiencies in the manufacturing process are realized.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto preferred embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited sincechanges and modifications may be made therein which are within the fullintended scope of the invention. For example, the present inventioncontemplates variations in the sizes, shapes, configurations, andinclusion or exclusion or various component parts, the manner in whichparts are connected, the specific type of manual controls or thespecific type of electronic controls being used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigeratorcabinet; a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigeratorcompartment; a drawer within the refrigerator compartment; a cover on atop of the drawer; a plurality of apertures in the cover; controls onthe cover for controlling temperature within the drawer; wherein thecover is configured to be positioned between a user interface assemblyand a user interface cover with screws through the apertures in a firstconfiguration wherein the controls are electronic controls forcontrolling temperature within the drawer; wherein the cover isconfigured to be snapped to a control housing using the plurality ofapertures for alignment in a second configuration wherein the controlsare manual controls for controlling the temperature within the drawer.2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of aperturescomprise a receiver opening for the controls and through holes onopposites sides of the receiver opening.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 2wherein the receiver opening is substantially centered along a length ofthe cover.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the receiver openingand the holes extend through a top surface of the cover.
 5. Therefrigerator of claim 4 wherein the cover further comprises a firstwindow on one side of the plurality of apertures and a second window onan opposite side of the plurality of apertures.
 6. The refrigerator ofclaim 5 wherein the drawer is a pantry drawer and wherein the cover is apantry drawer top cover.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein therefrigerator compartment is a fresh food compartment.